The Kep1er Nobody Expected Is Now Going Global

Kep1er stepped through the departure gates at Gimpo Airport on May 15, heading overseas to carry their most transformative album to international stages. With CRACK CODE — their 8th mini album — still fresh in fans' playlists, the six-member group is now taking the bolder, darker version of themselves to the world.

It's a moment that would have been hard to picture even a year ago. For a group once defined by bright, bubbly energy, the journey to CRACK CODE has been anything but predictable.

A New Chapter, A Leaner Six-Member Lineup

The road to CRACK CODE began with change. In March 2026, Kep1er officially became a six-member group after Seo Young Eun's departure following a seven-month health-related hiatus. For the remaining members — Choi Yu Jin, Xiaoting, Kim Chae Hyun, Kim Da Yeon, Hikaru, and Huening Bahiyyih — the 8th mini album was both a reinvention and a statement of resilience.

Released on March 31, 2026, CRACK CODE arrived roughly seven months after their seventh mini album BUBBLE GUM, released in August 2025. The gap between the two records couldn't be more obvious when you press play: where BUBBLE GUM leaned into softness, CRACK CODE tears that image apart entirely.

"We wanted to show Kep1er's own version of hip-hop and our wild side," the members said ahead of the release. "This album lets us show a side of ourselves people haven't seen before."

KILLA and the Sound That Surprised Everyone

The album's title track, "KILLA (Face the other me)", is the sonic centerpiece of the group's reinvention. Built on powerful lead synthesizers and trap-inspired drum patterns, the electronic hip-hop track is a genre Kep1er has never fully explored before — and it lands with conviction.

The concept behind CRACK CODE is one of inner awakening: a person's anxious, suppressed self shatters, releasing a more fearless identity. For Kep1er, it's a concept that mirrors their own group journey. The members channeled that narrative into every layer of the comeback — from the performance details to the way they trained for the album's release.

Member Choi Yu Jin recalled the challenge of adapting her vocals to the new sound. "The title track was different from my usual vocal style, so I focused on taking intensive lessons and working closely with the team during recording to make sure my own color came through," she said.

Kim Da Yeon pushed into unfamiliar territory for the visual side of the album. "I even watched scenes from the film The Substance as reference for certain acting moments in the concept film," she shared. "I practiced a lot to achieve that cold, powerful expression."

Hikaru, who returned to long hair for the first time in years, noted how the group approached performance quality as a collective effort. "We gave each other feedback on every part — me, the other members, and the choreographer — until the best version of each move came together."

Five Tracks, One Cohesive Vision

CRACK CODE is a tight, intentional five-track collection that builds a consistent world from start to finish.

• "I am Kep1" — the album opener, setting a defiant, self-assured tone that immediately signals the group's new direction
• "KILLA (Face the other me)" — the title track; electronic hip-hop that captures Kep1er's most intense and charismatic performance yet
• "MIC CHECK" — a high-energy track that shows off the group's range within the album's overarching concept
• "You Know..." — one of the album's more introspective moments, balanced within the stronger tracks
• "Addicted 2 Ya" — a dramatic, pop-influenced closer that Hikaru highlighted as one of her personal favorites for its contrast against the rest of the record

Member Xiaoting called out "I am Kep1" as the track that best captures their energy. "It holds the same spirit as the title track — you can feel Kep1er's attitude in every second of it."

What This Overseas Push Means

The May 15 departure from Gimpo Airport isn't just a travel update. For Kep1er, it's the start of a global leg that cements CRACK CODE as a serious international campaign. The group debuted through the survival program Girls Planet 999 in 2021, meaning their fanbase — known as Keplanets — has roots in Korea, Japan, and across Southeast Asia and beyond.

With CRACK CODE, the group has a sound that translates well to international stages. The hip-hop-influenced production and strong visual concept give them a distinct identity in a crowded K-pop landscape — especially compared to the wave of groups releasing softer, more accessible sounds in early 2026.

Members have been clear about their ambitions for this album cycle. "I want more people to know Kep1er's name through this album, and I want the title track to be heard not just in Korea but overseas too," Choi Yu Jin said. "And to our Keplanets — starting with this album, we're going to keep showing you everything we've got. Let's keep making great memories."

Kim Chae Hyun added her own goals: "I want this album to hit the hearts and ears of as many people as possible. To the fans who've been waiting — your patience was never wasted, and we'll keep proving that."

For Huening Bahiyyih, the process of building CRACK CODE was transformative on a personal level. "I put in a lot of input on styling and visuals — I kept sending references for looks I wanted to try and pushed to find the best expression of who we are right now," she said. "I want Keplanets to feel that growth when they watch us."

Keplanets React

The reception from the Keplanet fanbase since the album's March 31 release has been warm, particularly around the visual evolution the members underwent for the comeback. Several members — including Xiaoting, who debuted new hair color, and Hikaru with her return to long hair — drew significant attention online for their transformed looks.

The contrast with BUBBLE GUM has been a frequent talking point among fans. Where the seventh album leaned into a softer, more colorful aesthetic, CRACK CODE's dark, high-contrast imagery and intense choreography represent a deliberate step forward — one that many fans have described as "the Kep1er moment they didn't know they were waiting for."

With the group now in the air and CRACK CODE in full swing, the next chapter of Kep1er's story is being written overseas — one performance at a time.